Carton



Aug 24, 1937- y L. ZIMMERMAN 2,090,882

CARTON Filed July 29, 1936 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CARTON Louis L. Zimmerman, Jacksonville, Fla., assignor to Herring Ginger Ale, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application July 29, 1936, Serial No. 93,276

12 Claims.

The present invention relates particularly to a carton for the packaging of necked containers, such as bottles, and, more particularly, bottles of the type currently used in the marketing o1' 5 beverages, such as ginger ale. The new carton,

hereinafter to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, is especially economical in manufacture, eiective in protecting ,and displaying the containers, and advantageous in handling.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the new carton, the carton being closed.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1,

but showing the top of the carton in open position.

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a face view of a blank from which the carton may be most conveniently made.

For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the carton shown in Figures 1 to 3 is formed from the blank of Figure 4, although actually the carton may be built up from a number of separate blanks.

The blank shown in Figure 4 has substantially the form of a rectangle and is of any suitable material. Generally, the material will be relatively rigid in nature, so that the carton will retain its prescribed form in use, appropriate materials, to this end, being cardboard, reinforced paper, corrugated paperboard, etc. 'I'he blank comprises the panels i0, I2, and I3, the latter having a projecting wing Il integral therewith but demarked, desirably, by a score or fold line I5. The panels themselves are demarked by the score lines i6, I1, and |8, parallel to the line I5.

'I'he panels have extensions I9, 20, 2|, and 22 demarked by the continuous score or fold line 23, perpendicular to line I5, and are separated from each other by the slits 24, 25 and 26 which are aligned with the score lines I6, |1 and |8, respectively.

Panels I0 and |2 are continued into extensions or iiaps 21 and 28 demarked by the aligned score lines 29 and 31| parallel to line 23, the length of these extensions being equal, or substantially so, to the width o1' the similar panels and I3.

5o Panels and |3 are continued into extensions or iiaps 3| and 32 demarked by the aligned score lines 33 and 34 parallel to line 23, these extensions having a length equal, or substantially so, to the width of the similar panels I 8 and I2.

66 Extension 3| is separated from the adjacent extensions and panels by the slits 35 and 36, and extension 32 is separated from the adjacent extension and panel by the slit 31.

Extension 32 is provided with a pmi' of elongated slots 38 and 39 which extend in parallel 5 relation to the slit 31. Slot 38 is spaced from slit 31 a distance at least equal to the distance between the sides of the neck and body of a container, such as a ginger ale bottle as indicated at 40, Figure 1, and slot 39 is similarly 10 spaced from the adjacent edge of extension 32. The slots are spaced apart about twice the distance they are spaced from the adjacent edges of the extension. Extension 3| is provided with exactly similar slots. 15

Extension 21 is provided with a pair of slots 4| and I2 which extend parallel to fold line 29. The slots are symmetrically positioned and sufciently spaced apart so as to leave a strip 43 of substantial width between them. They are 20 smaller, as here shown, than the slots 38, 39.

The outer edges of extension 21 are provided with notches M and 45 so as to provide parallel edges spaced inwardly from the lateral edges` of the extension. Extension 21 is also provided 25 with a pair of obliquely extending slits or narrow slots I6 and 41 which extend from fold line 29 to adjacent the lateral edges cf the extension, terminating a distance from these edges at least equal to the distance of the edges of notches 44 30 and 45 therefrom. Extension 28 has exactly the same provision of slots, notches and slits as extension 21.

In assembly, the blank is bent on the lines I6, |1 and I8 so as to bring panel |2 in parallel 35 relation to panel I0 and panel I3 into similar relation with panel the tongue I4 being secured by any suitable means to the inner margin of panel I0, Figure 3, so that the panels become side walls arranged as the sides of an upright 40 rectangular parallelepiped. Wings I9 to 22 are folded inwardly and interleaved in substantially rectangular relation to the panels I0 to I3, and secured together in any suitable manner so as to form the bottom of the carton, which now has 45 substantially the form shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

'I'he illustrated carton is designed to receive six bottles in two rows of three each, and its proportions, of course, depend on the size of the bottles. 'I'he bottles having been placed in the carton, extension or nap 3| is folded over on line 33 to a position at right-angles to panel |I, i. e., to horizontal position, so that the necks of the bottles are engaged in the slots. Extension -duced to a minimum. The top horizontal wall or i'lap 32 is then similarly folded, and it may be provided with a struck-out tongue Q8 engageable in a slit i9 in flap 3l, Figures 3 and 4, so that the two aps will be held together. vThe slots as at 38 and 39 thus engage the necks of the bottles to position the same against undue relative movement and thereby reduce the danger of breakage.

Flap 28 may now be bent to a positionat rightangles to panel l2 and its outer corners inserted from below in the slots it and lll of iiap 21 which is simultaneously bent over to have its outer corners inserted from above in the similar slits of flap 28, the two flaps being thus interlocked to form a top wall for the carton.

The slots as at di and i2 of flaps 21 and 32 are in register and are so positioned above the tops of the containers that the latter are visible in substantial register with the slots as at 38, 39 so that the contents may be identified. The strip portions as at 63 constitute a gripping portion or handle by means of which the carton may be lifted, the hand being readily insertable through the slots.

It will be evident that the blank of Figure 4 is of very economical design, since it is substantially rectangular. The only part projecting beyond the outline of the rectangle is the tab U3 and Wastage in this respect is substantially eliminated, in cutting the blanks from a strip, by reversing the succeeding blank at the right of Figure 4 so that its tab `Hl comes above the tab It illustrated. The material eliminated by the notches as at M and is inconsequential, and it will be understood that the notches are provided in order that the slits as at 46 and il may terminate inwardly a sufcient distance from the tab edges so as not to be readily torn through.

The horizontal wall formed by flaps 3l and 32 serves in conjunction with the enclosing side Walls of the carton to prevent undue relative movement of the containers so that breakage is reconstituted by flaps 21 and 28 protects the tops of the bottles, while at the same time leaving them clearly visible. l

A further and extremely important feature of the described carton is that since the top wall is flat, the cartons, when made of relatively rigid material, can be securely stacked in upright position without buckling of the vertical walls.

As stated at the outset, the carton need not necessarily be made from a single blank as shown in Figure 4, and obviously the carton may be of a size to accommodate different numbers and sizes of bottles, and I do not limit myself to these details except as inthe following claims. In the claims, I refer to the upright position of the side panels and to the horizontal disposition of the top and intermediate walls purely as a matter of convenience and in reference to the normal position of thecarton in use.

I claim: l 1. A carton for necked containers, said carton comprising upright enclosing walls and a bottom wall, an apertured horizontal wall through which the necks of the containers project in use and above which a pair of opposite ones of said enclosing walls project, and an apertured top horizontal wall through which the upper ends of the containers are visible, said top wall being joined to the upper ends of said opposite ones of said projecting enclosing walls, said apertured horizontal walls and said opposite cries of said projecting enclosing walls dening an open ended above which a pair of opposite ones of said enclosing walls project, and an apertured top horizontal wall through whichthe upper ends of the containers are visible, said top Wall being joined to the upper ends of said opposite ones of said projecting enclosing Walls and being apertured in `such a manner as to provide a gripping portion, said apertured horizontal walls and said opposite ones of said projecting enclosing walls defining an open ended passage through the ends of which the necks of the containers may be visible.

3. A carton for necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side walls, a bottom Wall, an apertured horizontal Wall through which the necks of the containers project in use, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side Walls allelepiped and comprising side Walls, a bottom wall, an apertured horizontal wall through which the necks of the containers project in use, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said opposite -ones of said side walls, and an apertured top horizontal wall joining the upper ends of said other side walls and through which the upper ends of the containers are visible, said top wall being apertured in such a manner as to provide a gripping portion.

5. A carton for necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side walls, a bottom Wall, an apertured horizontal wall through which the necks of the containers project in use, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said opposite ones of said side walls, and an apertured top horizontal wall joining the upper ends of said other side walls and through which the upper ends of the containers are visible, both of said horizontal Walls comprising bent-over flaps constituting extensions of the respective side Walls.

6. A carton for necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side Walls, a botlapped flaps constituting extensions of said other side walls.

'7. A carton for necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side Walls, a bottom wall, an apertured horizontal wall through :modaal:

which the necks of the containers project in use, said horizontal wall joining the upper endsof opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said opposite ones of said side walls, and an apertured top horizontal wall joining the upper ends of said other side walls and through which the upper ends of the containers are visible, said top wall comprising overlapped and interlocked naps constituting extensions of said other side walls.

`8. A carton for the packaging of a plurality of rows of necked containers, said carton being in the form oi' an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side walls between which the rows of containers are receivable in juxtaposition, a bottom wall, a horizontal wall having slots through which the necks of the rows 'of containers respectively project, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of 2o said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said opposite ones of said side walls. and a top horizontal wall joining the upper ends of said other side walls. said top wall having slots substantially in register with the first-mentioned slots, the wall portion between adjacent slots serving as a gripping portion.

9. A carton for the packaging of a plurality of rows of necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side walls between which the rows of containers are receivable in juxtaposition, a bottom wall, a4 horizontal wall having slots through which the necks of the rows of containers respectively project, said horizontal wall join- :55 ing the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said opposite ones of said side walls, and a top horizontal wall joining the upper ends oi' said other side walls, said top wall having slots substan- ,w tially in register with the first-mentioned slots, the wall portion between ,adjacent slots serving as a gripping portion, both of said horizontal walls comprising bent-over naps constituting extensions of the respective side walls.

10. A carton for the packaging of a plurality of rows of necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular paralleleplped and comprisingside walls between which the rows of containers are receivable in juxtaposition, a

bottom wall, a horizontal wall having slots through which the necks oi the rows of containers respectively project, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting above said'opposite ones of said side walls, and a top horizontal wall joining the upper ends-of said other Vside walls, said top wall having slots substantially in register with the mst-mentioned slots, the wall portion between adjacent slots serving as a gripping portion, said top wall comprising overlapped flaps constituting extensions oi said other side walls.

l1. A carton for the packaging oi a plurality of' rows of necked containers, said carton being in the form of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and comprising side walls between which the rows of containers are receivable in juxtaposition, a bottom wall, a horizontal wall having slots through which the necks of the rows of containers respectively project, said horizontal wall joining the upper ends of opposite ones of said side walls, the other side walls projecting ,above said opposite ones of said side walls, and a top horizontal wall joining the upper ends of said other side walls, said top wall having slots substantially in register with the first-mentioned slots, the wall portion between adjacent slots serving as a gripping portion, said top wall comprising overlapped and interlocked flaps constituting extensions of said other side walls.

l2. A carton for necked containers, said carton being formed from a substantially rectangular blank of suitable material folded to provide side walls arranged as the sides of an upright rectangular parallelepiped and also to provide a bottom wall, opposite ones of said side walls having top extensions bent to horizontal position and the extensions having slots through which the container necks project in use, the other side walls projecting above said opposite ones of said side walls and having top extensions bent to and interlocked in horizontal position to form a top wall above the container tops, said top wall being provided with slots in substantial register with the `iirst-named slots and through which the container tops are visible, a gripping portion existing between the slots oi' said top wall.

, LOUIS L. ZIMMERMAN. 

